The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) here confirmed that they have been receiving many complaints regarding employers’ non-compliance to the Php240 daily minimum wage, as well as other employment benefits as they encouraged employees to take action by filing a complaint at their office.

“It is true, mucho quien ta reclama,” (many are complaining) said DOLE regional director Sisinio Cano in a press conference last week (February 15). He shared that their office was able to resolve about 180 minimum-wage-related cases for the past year. The resolution of the cases was able to benefit about 2,000 workers here. Other similar cases are still pending.

“You can write a formal letter, or you can even just text us (about the nature of the complaint),” Cano said. “Tell us the name of the business establishment in question, and then we will do a compliance visit.”

Cano explained that in the event of complaints, labor compliance officers will be sent to the establishment to “check records”. “In case we find out gaps, we will give them (management) a chance to correct. If they do not correct, we will issue a compliance order, but we still have to follow due process.”

Reynaldo Foncardas, director of the DOLE’s Regional Conciliation and Mediation Board (RCMB) told media that the non-compliance to the minimum wage is just one of the problems being faced by local workers. “There are still plenty of other issues such as the non-payment of overtime pay, non-compliance to holiday rates, and the non-giving of benefits such as the 13th-month pay. We have to call the attention of the companies, make them understand that this is the law, and compel them to abide by the law,” he said.

Meanwhile, the DOLE says that the city still remains to be strike-free. Foncardas explains that this is primarily due to the absence of organized labor unions here, in spite of the many reported labor-related cases. He cited the benefits of having unions to address employer-employee issues such as those above.

“The benefits of labor-management cooperation or LMC are enormous,” he stressed. “The relationship of employers with the employees will improve, and as a result worker productivity will increase and they will be more satisfied with their job.” (DIS/PIA9-Zamboanga City)